The State Assembly on the last day of the first phase of the Budget Session on Saturday witnessed heated exchanges between Opposition Congress and BJD Treasury Bench members and frequent adjournments over action taken on youth Congress leaders, who had pelted eggs and stones at the Chief Minister’s vehicle here two days ago. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the Government has unjustifiably levelled charges under Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) against some youth Congress leaders, who were protesting against the unemployment crisis prevailing in the State.
“While such attacks were made on former Chief Ministers Biju Patnaik and Janaki Ballav Patnaik, they had not taken any action against the protesters. This is disappointing that the present Government is trying to suppress Opposition voice by taking unjustified action,” Bahinipati said. He also came down heavily on the Government for not taking any effective action against the Rayagada district Collector and ITDA PA, whose alleged torture had forced Rayagada District Welfare Officer Dhaneswar Prusty to commit suicide.
“There are many instances of grievous crimes like the Itishree murder, DWO suicide, kidnapping by a Minister and assault on my kin to name a few in which this Government has protected the culprits. Taking action against Congress protesters shows the ruling party’s ill intention,” Bahinipati said and demanded that the Section 307 charge be withdrawn forthwith. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the Rayagada DWO suicide case.
To support Bahinipati’s demand, his party colleagues soon rushed to the Well of the House and shouted anti-Government slogans. BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda too raised the Rayagada issue and demanded a CBI inquiry into it. Due to the ruckus, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House first at 11.37 pm for 30 minutes and subsequently for two more times till 5 pm.
When the same situation persisted at 5 pm, the Speaker said that as the issue is not statutory in nature, requisite documents should be submitted to him for consideration and urged the members to participate in the general discussion on the Budget. However, Congress and BJP members walked out of the House in protest. Nearly an hour after the discussion, the Speaker adjourned the House till March 11, 2015.